‘Were asked to register at least one case in a month’: 10 cops in Faridkot fail to meet target of booking drug offenders, face probe

Confirming the action, Faridkot SSP Harjit Singh said, “I know it is a harsh step but it is just like guidance for them. My purpose is to make these police officers focus on the real job of investigation and catching criminals instead of remaining more involved in clerical work.”

Before forming government, AAP had promised to make Punjab drug-free within three months. With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann setting a deadline of August 15, 2024, to eradicate the drug menace, the state police went the extra mile. While the Amritsar police launched a gully cricket tournament to keep the youth away from drugs, and Jalandhar (Rural Police) led a rally to “build, a brighter, drug-free future for Punjab”, the Faridkot police decided to set targets for its officials.

The October 9 order read, “To improve performance under the NDPS Act, orders were issued…to file at least one case each month against drug offenders under the NDPS Act. However, these employees have not registered cases under the NDPS Act. For this reason, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against these employees.”

“It is ordered that SP Buta Singh, PPS, the investigating officer, ensures that an inquiry against these employees, who have failed to follow the orders, is conducted and completed, and a detailed report is submitted within one month,” it added.
The Faridkot police registered 156 NDPS cases since January 1, 2023 to till date. A maximum of 21 cases were registered in September, the month the orders were issued to register at least one case under the NDPS Act.

According to Punjab Police, 20,979 drug smugglers, including 3,003 major players, have been arrested since July 5, 2022. While 15,434 first information reports (FIRs) related to drug offences have been lodged, more than 1,510 kg of heroin has been seized from across the state. The police have also seized Rs 15.81 crore in drug money in the last 15 months.

Meanwhile, taking potshots at the CM, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia posted on X, “This is your style of war against drugs? Special orders have been issued to register fake NDPS cases and now you are claiming that in 15 months you are arrested 3003 big fish among 20,979 drug smugglers. #Punjabis have already understood your lies. Shame on you.”